How many jobs were added in Columbus, OH area last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
It gained 5,100 jobs in January 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Columbus, OH Metro Area has averaged about 1,800 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+5.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
In the previous employment report on the Columbus, OH area, there was a net loss of 1,300 jobs in December 2025. The Columbus, OH area job growth of 5,100 in January 2026 swung from a loss of 1,300 jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five-year period (February 2021 to January 2026), the Columbus, OH area gained jobs in 43 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the eighth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2021 (+15,600) while job growth was weakest in September 2021 (-6,100).
There were 5,100 more jobs in January 2026 in Columbus, OH area
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Columbus, OH area
How does the Columbus, OH area job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2026, the Columbus, OH area has gained an average of 808 jobs every month. That's higher than the 2025 average monthly increase of 358, and the lowest since 2025. The 2026 average ranks as seventh-worst in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 34,000 every month in 2009 to a gain of 29,600 every month in 2024.
In 2025, the Columbus, OH area gained an average of 358 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Columbus, OH area, seasonally adjusted
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
